Suspension railway



fiepko M W23, HASTSW J. L. MILLER SUSPENSION RAILWAY Filed May 23, 1925 a sheets-Sheet 1 k} I Q ept. 11 1923. 11,467,871!

J. L. MILLER SUSPENSION RAILWAY I Filed May 23, 1925 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Z N "w W W M Snow NI 01 ept 11,1923. mmmn v J. L. MILLER SUSPENSION RAILWAY H led May 23, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. ll, 1923.

.unirn srarss JOHN L. MILLER, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO.

SUSPENSION RAILWAY.

Application filed May 23, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MiLLnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Suspension Railway, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to suspension railways, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this character wherein the weight of the car will be sup ported by brackets forming a part thereof and extending from the upper portion of the car, due consideration being given to the riding qualities of the car.

Another object of the invention. is to provide means to relieve the supporting brackets of lateral strain caused by the swinging of the car while rounding a curve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for restricting the swing of the car to prevent the car from contacting with its supporting posts.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View disclosing the suspension rails and cars supported thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view of one of the supporting brackets.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one of the brackets disclosing the manner of supporting the rollers therein.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the supporting posts which are anchored to the ground surface as at 6, the upper ends of the beams being connected by the I beams 7.

Bracket members 8 are secured to the posts 5 and on which bracket members are supported the rails 9, providing the track for supporting the wheels of the car associated therewith, Braces 10 have connec- Serial No. 640,990.

tion with the posts 5 and 7 to secure the same against movement.

Suitable supporting beams not shown, may connect the beams 7, and provide means "for supporting the roadbed 10, that may be constructed in any suitable manner, guard members 11 being provided at the edges of the roadbed 10 to prevent vehicles from passing laterally therefrom.

As shown, the rails 9 have inwardly extending flanges 12 adapted to contact with the rollers 18 arranged to operate in vertical planes within suitable openings formed. in the brackets 14 that have connection with the car in any suitable and well known manner. These brackets include spring housings 15 that are curved at their lower ends as at 16 to accommodate the curved surface 17 of the bearing supports 18. Openings 19 are formed in the bearing supports 18, which openings accommodate the bearings 20 that receive the shafts 21.

Spring members 22 have their lower ends contacting with the bearing supports 18, and have their upper ends engaging the under surface of the upper end of the spring housings 15 to normally urge the bearing support 18 and its bearing towards the lower end of the housing associated therewith.

It is to be understood that the housings 15 are secured to the bracket members 14 so that the weight of the car supported by the bracket members is directed to the springs 22 to normally tension the same. The usual trolley wire is indicated at 23 and is engaged by the trolley wheel carried by the trolley pole forming a part of the car construction, whereby electric current may be directed t the motor forming a part of the car and which is not shown in the present drawings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lengths of the post 5 may be such as to permit vehicles to pass under the cars, which are indicated at 25, thereby conserving space, As the car swings laterally on rounding a curve, it is obvious that the rollers 13 will engage with the flanges 12 and restrict movement of the car proper to eliminate any possibility of the car contacting with its supporting beams.

What is claimed is 2- 1. A suspension railway including supporting beams, bracket members extending laterally from the supporting beams, rails on the brackets, said rails having inwardly extended flanges, a car, bracket members on the car, rollers on the bracket members, said rollers adapted to. contact with the rails when the car swings laterally, and wheels supported by the car brackets for moving over the rails.

2. A suspension railway including supporting beams, brackets on the supporting beams, rails positioned on the brackets, a car, brackets extending from the car, an axle mounted in the brackets and carrying wheels at its ends, to move over the rails, said rails having inwardly extending flanges, and means carried by the car brackets supportin g the car, and adapted to contact with the flanges ot the rails for restricting lateral movement of the ear. 7

8. A suspension railway including supporting bean'is, brackets on the supporting beams, rails on the brackets, a car having JOHN L. MILLER.

Witnesses:

C. T. MARoUIss, F. C. MAXWELL. 

